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Chuck’s CV

Chuck Estin

Curricula Vitae

PROFESIONAL EXPERIENCE

2017-PresentPrincipal Teacher at Lokahi Community and Founder of Kumu Aina School
Kipahulu Valley, Maui, HI
Lead member of an off-grid, permaculture community on 7 acres, supervising apprentices for the production vegetable garden, food forest, and continued sustainable project development. Designing and implementing a unique “landed”, Permaculture Diploma School, Kumu Aina.

2012-2017Farmer One Song Farm
Kilauea, Kauai, HI
Farmed and supervised apprentices on seven-acre permaculture farm, which included growing, marketing and selling produce from a market garden and food forest. Designed and built the infrastructure, buildings, earthworks and plantings for the farm and its community of six. Consulted as farm designer in the larger Kauai community.

2004  - 2005Educational Consultant, Bainbridge Graduate Institute, Bainbridge Island WA Consulted with MBA program for Sustainable Business for their accreditation process. Developed graduation competencies and assessments with stakeholder input. Worked with the academic faculty to integrate competencies into their coursework. Took coursework for Sustainable Business Certificate

2001 - 2004

School Consultant Small Schools Coaches Collaborative, Seattle, WA Educational reform consultant to schools funded by Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Consulted to assist schools to develop and implement restructuring. Coached principals and teachers for whole systems organizational change. Received extensive professional development in building professional learning communities.

PERSONAL STATEMENT:
Raised in Boulder, I spent much of my adult life in the Pacific NW. Originally a research scientist, then a teacher and educational consultant, I am now a permaculture designer and teacher living communally in Maui. Journeying through these diverse careers has influenced me to be a life-long learner. These occupations have helped me to integrate diverse perspectives into my current whole-systems world view. As a scientist I learned to objectively analyze and organize observations. As a teacher, I learned ways to motivate people to learn. I discovered the same principles that govern Nature’s systems, can be applied to design and improve the health of any social system - be it a student, community or a business. As a mentor, I pose the questions: “Who am I?; What do I want?; How do I get there?”. As I’ve asked those questions of myself over the past ten years, I came to my current vision: a Permaculture School for helping others develop purposeful skills, find their soul’s purpose, and manifest right livelihood. I’m designing and co-creating this vision with best practices in permaculture design. This feels to me to be my soul’s purpose, and fulfills my passion for helping to make the world a better place.